Clanker was one of the crewmen that assisted in killing the remaining crew of the Edinburgh Trader following the attack of the Kraken, which Clanker helped summon. He was one of the crewmen chosen to recover the Dead Man's Chest from Isla Cruces, and fought Ragetti, and was also one of his fellow crewmen to be trampled by the large wheel that Will Turner and James Norrington were trapped in.[1] He later fought in the battle of Calypso's maelstrom, into which he was cast when Jack Sparrow stole his pistol, pushing him from a rope above the Flying Dutchman sending him falling into the maelstrom. He possibly survived though as he was seen aboard the Flying Dutchman, implying that he possibly landed on the Flying Dutchman.[2]

Appearance and traits

Clanker concept.

Clanker During the Maelstrom Battle

Known as a barnacled-browed blackguard,[3] Clanker commonly wielded two lengths of chain-shot with devastating effect. He used it in combat,[1] though was also known to wield a flintlock pistol. His face was covered in barnacles and mussels—his left eye being completely covered—and he had seaweed in place of hair under his algae-covered hat. Sea anemones grew from his left shoulder.[3] He had a hole in his forehead, which was lined with a circle of shells, and his tongue, inside an inhumanly-wide mouth, appeared to be an oyster. The mussels on his face were known to respond to Clanker's mood; for instance, they would simulate laughter whenever Clanker was amused.[4] His wicked laugh can be heard echoing around the ship, especially when he sees others suffer.[3]

Behind the scenes

Zizzle produced an action figure of Clanker for the first series of its Secrets of the Deep line. NECA produced a Clanker figure in its third series of Dead Man's Chest figures.

Although Clanker has been pushed into the Maelstrom like few other crewmembers, and he has not been seen among those with Will Turner, it is implied that he survived as when members became human, Andy Beckwith is seen among them. This implies that he either landed on the Flying Dutchman, or that members of the Flying Dutchman cannot be killed. They can be stabbed dozens of times, and they will never die. The evidence with Clanker shows that even pushing them into the Maelstrom does not stop them. Alternatively, it is possible that the creators did not care and randomly put all the actors who played the Flying Dutchman crew without speculating of whether some died or not.